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Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, West Vision (Cayo) and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Rise and Shine Morning Show, and the Dickie Bradley Specials


The San Pedro Sun

SPTC holds Basketball Marathon
In an attempt to ignite basketball fever on La Isla Bonita, The San Pedro Town Council held an all-day marathon on Sunday, November 13th at the Angel Nu�ez Auditorium. Four teams competed in hopes of capturing the top prize: Caye Caulker, Tuff E Nuff, Healthy Police, and Boca Boyz. After several exciting matches Boca Boyz triumphed and took home the championship. In second place was Tuff E Nuff receiving a cash prize of $250. Both teams had such great players that two MVPs were recognized. The MVP for Tuff E Nuff was Rico Black, while Boca Boyz', Michael Guan took the prize for top player of his team.

SPHS Male Volleyball Team: 2016 National Volleyball Champions!
After claiming the victory over the male division of the Northern Regional Secondary Volleyball Tournament, the San Pedro High School (SPHS) Male Volleyball Team once again captured the National Championship on Saturday, November 5th. The SPHS boys travelled to San Ignacio in the Cayo District over the weekend, where they represented the northern region of the country very well. After two days of competition, they emerged as the 2016 National Volleyball Champions! On Monday, November 14th, the team along with the school staff and entire student body paraded through the streets of San Pedro Town. In honour of their grand victory, many residents greeted them on the streets and applauded their achievement. The San Pedro Sun joins the entire community in congratulating the SPHS male volleyball team on a great win; you have made San Pedro Town proud! Keep up the hard work and continue to achieve greatness in sports!

National Garifuna Council San Pedro Branch begins Settlement activities
Garifuna Settlement Day is slated for Saturday, November 19th, and the National Garifuna Council San Pedro Branch (NGCSPB) began their celebratory activities on Saturday, November 12th and Sunday, November 13th. The last three clothing segments of the fashion show represented the three colors of the Garifuna flag: yellow, black, and white. Eduardo Aguilar, organizer of the fashion show, stated that he thought it was a great idea to incorporate the colors of the Garifuna flag into the fashion show. Although each color has various meanings, in this case, the black representing the hardship and struggle, yellow signifying hope and prosperity, and white indicating peace. Models showcased crisp white outfits first followed by sunny yellow outfits. Lastly, models sashayed in stunning black outfits that had the crowd cheering widely. All outfits can be purchased at Foreva Fancy Boutique on the corner of Coconut Drive and Tarpon Street in San Pedro Town.

CG Esthetics hosts Glamour Shots Fundraiser
On Sunday, November 13th, CG Esthetics hosted a very successful 'Glamour Shots' fundraiser. Benefiting from the raised funds for the two most important organizations that greatly assist the community in San Pedro Town-the San Pedro Red Cross and the San Pedro Food Bank. From 9AM to 4PM, participants arrived at the salon to receive being pampered with hair styling and makeup application. Several pampered individuals went to take their glamour shots with many props available for them to choose. In an effort to raise more funds, the salon also held a clothing and accessories swap. For a donation of $5, guests had the opportunity to choose from a couple of gently used items. Juanece Messervy also contributed to the fundraiser by donating 10% of her 'Clay Creations' sales to both charities.

Ambergris Today

Belize Government Stops All Offshore Surveys for Now
Postponement of the Completion of the Multibeam and Sea Seep Survey - The Ministry of Economic Development and Petroleum has issued a press release informing the general public that the completion of the offshore multibeam and sea seep survey will be postponed until public consultations on the survey are conducted. The Ministry will inform the general public of the schedule of the public consultations so that interested persons may attend. The Ministry of Economic Development and Petroleum, through the Geology and Petroleum Department stated that they will continue to ensure that the petroleum sector is developed in a responsible and environmentally conscious manner which can contribute to the sustainable development of Belize.

Misc Belizean Sourcesmzz

Karaoke Friday on Caye Caulker
Ring in Garifuna Settlement Day onNovember 18th at Central Park from 6pm. Sing your heart out from 6pm til 10pm. Garifuna Dancers at 10pm followed by a dance til 2am. Music by Thundah Vibez Sounds

Assessing the efficiency and effectiveness of the Belize Health Information System
The Ministry of Health is working along with PAHO Health Information consultants this week to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the Belize Health Information System (BHIS)

Incident with GAF Naval Patrol and SATIIM Patrol Vessel on the Sarstoon River
he Belize Defence Force (BDF) received a report on an incident that occurred on November 10th 2016, in which the Sarstoon-Temash Institute for Indigenous Management (SATIIM) was interrupted by Guatemalan Armed Forces (GAF) while operating on the Sarstoon River. On the said date at about 7:30 a.m., SATIIM personnel along with village leaders of Crique Sarco and Graham Creek carried out a routine community forest patrol along the Sarstoon River. The patrol was organized by SATIIM to monitor deforestation and illegal activities in Southern Belize. The Belize Forward Operating Base (FOB) reported that around 7:30 a.m. the vessel docked at the FOB and that SATIIM would be conducting a routine patrol. The FOB reported that the vessel then proceeded to the Sarstoon River through the northern channel. At about 2:30 p.m. on that same day, the SATIIM vessel returned and reported to the FOB that a GAF patrol vessel had stopped them as they were traversing the Sarstoon.

Power interruption 6:00am to 11:00am, Saturday, Nov 19, San Pedro
North San Pedro, from Boca Del Rio to Tranquillity Bay Resort. Portion Pescador Dr to Boca Del Rio will also experience power interruption from 6:00am to 8:30am. BEL to replace transformer at Boca Del Rio Substation and energize new lines in the area.

PACT 2016 Environmental Fellowship
The Protected Areas Conservatin Trust is calling for applications for their 2016 Environmental Fellowship. They are awarding one fellowship valued at $50,000. The deadline is November 28th. "The PACT was formally established in January 1996 with the passing of the Protected Areas Conservation Trust Act, No. 15 of 1995, creating the institution as a Statutory Board. The functions of the PACT are to encourage and promote, for the benefit and enjoyment of the present and future generations of the people of Belize, the provision, protection, conservation and enhancement of the natural and cultural resources of Belize. The PACT Environmental Fellowship is designed to provide financial assistance to dynamic and successful mid-career and/or senior professional Belizeans who already possess a graduate degree and are entering a new post-grad programme or professional development in an area of study that will contribute to the sustainable development of Belize's National Protected Areas System."

Tacos Festival, Orange Walk
No, it's not too soon to start thinking about TACOS FESTIVAL! Mark the date: Nov. 27, Orange Walk Town. Thanks for the reminder Belize Tourism Board!

Garifuna Expo
Venezuelan Embassy Belmopan.

COMMUNITY PITCHES IN TO SPRUCE UP STANN CREEK HOUSE AND CULTURE AND GULISI COMPOUND IN THE SPIRIT OF UWARADAGUNI*
Artists, students and community members joined forces in October and November to spruce up the location that houses the Gulisi Museum and School and the Stann Creek House of Culture (SCHC). *Uwaradaguni means unity in Garifuna. It all started in September, when DEC & Sons Construction helped SCHC start rehabilitating the artist boxes at the monument site. Assessing the scale of the project, SCHC Coordinator Joshua Arana quickly realized he would need help and assembled a committee. The project got a financial contribution from Stonetree Records for the repair of some boxes. To get the word out, the committee planned an Artist Service Day for the 29th of October, in collaboration with the BDF and the Dangriga Town Council. The public was invited to assist in the cleaning and was also a part of the discussion of how to maintain the site going forward.

Super photo of the super moon!Unique Belize at Belize Chamber of Commerce Christmas Expo
Come and see what Unique Belize is all about. A collection of crafts for home, office and gift-giving--handmade by Belizean artisans. Dec 3 at 10 AM to Dec 4 at 6 PM, The Ramada Belize City Princess, Newtown Barracks, Kings Park, 50 Belize City, Belize

The Institute of Archaeology hosting it's second training for site staff in Professional Development

Young Belizean Sailors Compete in Bermuda's 2016 National Optimist Dinghy Championship Regatta
"They were the best in the World, pops." Interviewer: "Better than in Canada, this summer?" (He'd placed 7 out of 127 up there.} "Oh yeah!" These are the words of San Pedro's Kevin Velasquez, age 15 and Belize's 2015 Optimist Sailing Dinghy National Champion, after placing 25th out of 75 in the 2016 Bermuda National Championship Optimist Regatta, November 10 - 13 at the Royal Naval Dockyard in Bermuda. Perhaps they weren't all of the World's best, but among the 75 were sailors visiting from Barbados, Canada, The Caymans, Italy, Poland, and the US. Staying in the top third of that fleet and finishing 10th, 12th, and 13th in 3 of the 11 races, are what Kevin accomplished in the final regatta of his Optimist career. The year you turn 15 is the last year you can enter formal Optimist regattas.

BHA promoting Belize Tourism in Montreal and Toronto!
Following the recent addition of the twice weekly Westjet flight direct between Toronto and Belize City, the Belize Hotel Association was excited to participate in the Canadian Road show that was organized by the Belize Tourism Board ,and included the participation of several private stakeholders in theTourism Industry of Belize. The BHA Marketing Director, Tessie Duran Tonaco attended the event to represent our members. The intense two day marketing event, was hosted in Toronto, on Tuesday November 8, 2016, and in Montreal, on Wednesday November 9, 2016. The BHA, the BTB and attending industry stakeholders, each had a tabletop presentation at both venues, where they were able to have one-on-one meetings with a total of more than 100 Canadian travel agents. After the meetings and business exchange, dinner was served to the agents while, Ms. Deborah Gilharry and Ms. Althea Sebastian, Travel Trade Officers of the Belize Tourism Board, gave a video and slideshow presentation about Belize, the areas of interest and the culture of the different destinations within the country. This was followed by a Q&A segment, and then a raffle of vacation packages to Belize, that was greeted with much enthusiasm from the agents.

BHA BI-ANNUAL MEETING
DATE: December 7, 2016 VENUE: San Ignacio Resort Hotel. We hope you will join us, to hear about the exciting new activities that the BHA is planning and what we have accomplished in the recent months. If you are not a member of the BHA as yet, we would still love to have you join us !! Invitations will be emailed this week. Complimentary Ground Transfers will be provided from Belize City to San Ignacio. Kindly RSVP your attendance to Lourdes or Tessie Email: [email protected] or [email protected] Telephone- 223-0669

AGM Invite
Nov. 22, Caye Caulker Community Center, 7pm

Paint N Splash
Calling all Pirate Splashers! Join us this Thursday at Crazy Canucks Beach Bar.

Inauguration of Ambergris Stadium
The San Pedro Town Council, Minisitry of Tourism & Civil Aviation and the San Pedro Sports Committee are excited to announce the official inauguration of the newly constructed Ambergris Stadium on November 26, 2016. After the Inaugural ceremony there will be two matches for everyone to enjoy! Come witness the matches between San Pedro's teams versus the teams from Mexico and USA! Tickets are on sale at the San Pedro Town Council for only $10. Entertainment by Yaka's Elite Dancers in collaboration with the San Pedro Dance Academy and music by San Pedro's very own, Rompe Raja!

Power interruption 5:00am to 6:00am, Sunday, November 20: entire Belize City inclusive of all areas up to Mile 1 Philip Goldson Highway and Mile 1 George Price Highway
BEL to repair hotspots on transformer at the Belize City Substation.

Garfiuna Exhibit on display for students and the community at Mount Hope, Unitedville
We are always happy to support! Numasa Wellness Resource Center

Citizen Science GIS team
Check out the exciting work of the Citizen Science GIS team that focuses on mapping open data around Belize with community partners around the country! They have funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) #REU program to complete marine debris and disaster management work in Hopkins, Belize. They are also creating a new project, Open Reef Mapping Society, that builds on this work.

"Dia de los Finados" in San Pedro
The opening of "Dia de los Finados" exhibition has been re-scheduled for Wednesday, November 16th at 7 pm. Kindly join us as we honor our dearly departed. Kindly share with family and friends.

Paradise Theater playing this weekend
Suicide Squad, The BFG, The Monster, Snowden. See Ya at the Movies

Channel 7

Alleged Child Killer Charged
Last night, we brought you extensive coverage of the tragic story of 7 year-old Tyler Savery. He's the child who was gunned down in the street-style execution of his older cousin, 22 year-old Porshan Pipersburg. Both of them were killed, and the loss to this family was even more grievous because a child was killed in an adults' street war. Well, the man who police believe was the gunman is 20 year-old Jayear Flores, a resident of Curassow Street, and tonight, he's at the Belize Central Prison. You'll notice Flores in this footage as the man in the striped red shirt who tried his best to hide his face from the cameras while he was being escorted to the Magistrates Court a few hours ago. He was arraigned this evening before Magistrate Carlon Mendoza on two counts of murder, and because those are capital offences, no plea was taken from him, and neither could he be granted bail. He was remanded to the Belize Central Prison until January 16, 2017.

Looking Into The Face Of Your Son's (Alleged) Killer
Tyler Savery's mother, Shakera Young, no doubt had viewers transfixed with her very powerful interview, displaying vulnerability, strength, and fortitude in the face of such loss, which normally overcomes other grief stricken mothers. Today, she dutifully attended court, and observed Jayear Flores, the man who is accused of killing her son. After the arraignment, she told us that putting a face to the alleged killer only aroused sorrow for this young man and his family. Here's what she had to say: Shakera Young - Mother of Tyler Savery: "I'm still a bit lost for words because to me that young man is still a child himself for him to have don't something like that to my little boy. I'm still a bit disgruntle about it because I only see one person in there and I do believe that was somebody driving and if he's the shooter then somebody else is involved in that. At this point right now what the police are telling me, I am holding on to that and hoping that justice will be served the right way."

PUP Leader Calls For Unity In Wake Of Child's Death
And Shakera Young's surprising even tempered-ness in the face of such great loss, has certainly caught the nation's attention. Today, it inspired the Leader of the Opposition to make a call for national unity around the cause of violence:... Hon. John Briceno, PUP Party Leader: "Tyler Savery was murdered on the streets and it makes you wonder what kind of country, where we are getting to where a man could just go on the street and just shoot at somebody else without regards if there are women or children around. Then here we have a 7-year-old that was killed, I think that is not only an issue of the government but we as a people need to be outraged. What is wrong with us? It is a child that all of us have lost and until we start to feel that way, that the loss of this child is not only of the mother Shakera, but even us lost a child. Now for me as a Politian it would be so easy to lash out at UDP, at the incompetence of the government and because of the poverty. We have to stop for a minute and think, both political parties need to get together and put their best minds to see how we can solve this matter and we need to get the churches, private sector and NGO communities, everybody together to be able to address this matter. We need to follow that wonderful example, the courage and the grace that Shakera has demonstrated. But I'm appealing for everyone to join us, let us work together, let's forget our differences. If I'm PUP and you are UDP and if you are Spanish and I am Creole, let's think as a community and as Belizeans to try and find an end to this senseless, endless cycle of violence."

GSU Caught Cruz, Escapee
Two escaped prisoners, David Cruz Jr and Lincoln Bejerano have been on the run since October 12th - after escaping from Belmopan police, but tonight Cruz is back in custody. The alleged robber - who was charged as part of the heist at the Belmopan Income Tax Office - was found today hiding out on a farm in Cotton Tree. The GSU led the search base don information they had received. The unit reports that when they arrived at the farm, the house was locked and so the team started to search the area. They found a pump action 12 gauge shotgun about 300 meters from the house along with nine (9) live 12 gauge cartridges. They continued to search, and about 20 minutes later, found CRUZ Jr cowering in some bushes. He was taken to the Belmopan Police Station where he was charged for Escape from Lawful Custody. He returns to the remand section at the Hattieville prison where he is on remand for Robbery and Firearm offences.

A Juvenile Horse Theft Ring?
On Sunday, residents of the Los Lagos community contacted the Smith family, who run the Bacab Ecopark, telling them that riders were galloping away on their horses down the Philip Goldson Highway. And it wasn't employees riding those horses; the horsemen were actually boys the youngest, an eleven year old. Police chased down the young horse wranglers, and arrested all three. We spoke to Lourdes Smith, Bacab's Sales and Marketing Director about the incident. Lourdes Smith, Sales & Marketing Dir., Bacab: "On Sunday we were alerted by a resident of the Los Lagos area that they had seen 3 kids on horses and they thought that they may be for Bacab. We were just leaving from home when we came out and started looking to see if we see the horses to make sure that they were ours or not. We ended up finding them all the way into Ladyville nearly by the supermarkets. We caught one there and we caught the other 2 horses further down going almost by Williamson Industries old site."

Alleged Girl Shooter To Court for Attempted Murder
Last night we told you about the two teenaged girls who were shot on Sunday night in separate incidents. Well, police have charged one suspect for shooting the 13 year old on Raccoon street extension. She came within millimeters of losing her life when the bullet grazed her cheek. The alleged shooter is Anthony Crawford, who appeared in court today where he was charged for attempted murder, dangerous harm and use of deadly means of harm. There's no bail for that, and Magistrate Norman Rodriguez remanded him into custody until January 16, 2017.

John B Says Blame Superbond 3 On The UDP
The international rating agency Standard and Poors today downgraded Belize's sovereign credit rating to CCC+ with a negative outlook, after it was announced that government was going for another restructuring of the half a billion dollar superbond. The Government of Belize is telling its bondholders that there are "serious economic and financial challenges currently facing the country" and that it can't afford to make the bullet payments in 2017. And while the Superbond is all commercial debt that was accumulated during the last PUP government - today opposition leader John Briceno held a press conference to say that the public should blame Superbond 3 on the UDP:... Hon. John Briceno, PUP Party Leader: "The facts are that we are in this position because of the UDP incompetence and the UDP messed and this is the UDP superbond. They made certain promises to the bond holders that they were going to reduce the level from 60% and here we are at 81% - that they were going to have fiscal discipline."

PM Cagey On Tax Question
And so you heard Briceno say that taxpayers will have to share in the pain with bondholders in the form of increased taxes. That's what we asked the Prime Minister on Saturday and he was cagey in answering the question:

PUP Meets With BNTU, Pledges Salary Solidarity
And today the PUP met with the teachers to say that the opposition would back them up to try and force government to make the payment. Today, Briceno said a the nation owes teachers a debt, and they should at least be paid for their sacrifice: Hon. John Briceno, PUP Party Leader: "We need to be thankful to the teachers of this country who stood up and forced the government to do the right thing. The chamber has been crying out about transparency and accountability and they did nothing. All they were doing was just talking. The PSU and the other people, they've done nothing but here we have the BNTU that stood up and said no, they drew the line. Now we fight out now that no other than the deputy Prime Minister who was a former teacher, has decided that he's going to punish the teachers and that he's going to teach them a lesson. Just imagine the month before Christmas, this government is threatening to take away almost a third of the salaries of the teachers just before Christmas."

Hon. Briceno Calls Sarstoon State of Affairs Very Worrying
And speaking also on the situation on the Sarstoon where a SATIIM Patrol was stopped by the Guatemalan military last week, Opposition Leader Briceno said there is reason for grave concern over the deteriorated state of Belize Guatemala relations:... Hon. John Briceno, PUP Party Leader: "I did not find that only shocking, but frightening. It scares me to hear our foreign minister to speak in such terms, basically just throwing up his hands and there is nothing we can do. We in the PUP have been saying it from the time I became leader, that we need to have a plan to be able to address this issue. That we need once again embarked into an international campaign. Now here we have the no other than the foreign minister who considers himself a very good friend of Carlos Raul Morales, the Foreign Minister from Guatemala. You see them hugging and smiling and every minute very touchy-touchy and now announcing that his very best friend refuses to take his call and that we now have the Guatemalans coming into our river, preventing our people to go up the Sarstoon River, putting aside decades of understanding as to how we use the Sarstoon River - you on your side and we on our side respecting one another. But this is happening because we have no plan."

Defence Ministry Asking Guats About Sarstoon Aggression
As we have reported, according to the SATIIM reports, the Guatemalan military personnel stopped them and warned them that the Sarstoon River is a military zone, and that according to some still mysterious protocol, anyone who needed to travel the river had to get permission from the Guatemalan military, which is based at the mouth of the Sarstoon. Well, the Belize Defence Force has confirmed that SATIIM made the very same report to them, and they will seek clarification from their Guatemalan counterparts. A press release from the Ministry of Defense says, quote, "The Belize Defence Force (BDF) received a report on an incident that occurred on November 10th 2016, in which� (SATIIM) was interrupted by Guatemalan Armed Forces while operating on the Sarstoon River� Belizean authorities are following up with Guatemalan counterparts to get clarification on this recent incident in the Sarstoon."

Annual Medical Congress Considers Wellness
Today was day one of the Ministry of Health's annual Medical Congress. Over 50 health professionals from across the country attended the session at the Biltmore and they discussed a cross section of topics including the effects of Zika, cervical cancer prevention, and tuberculosis diagnosis, among many others. We stopped by for the afternoon session that focused on prenatal care and pregnancy and Dr. Jose Moguel explained why it's important for medical professionals to participate. Dr. Jose Moguel, Surgeon: "It is an activity where the maternal and child health wing of the Ministry of Health hosts an educational activity geared towards physicians. Mostly if you notice BMDS stands for Medical and Dental, today's mostly addressed to physicians. The physicians are the ones that mostly do everyday doctor to patient care, manage diseases. We also have to include all health care providers. We welcome nurses and other health care providers. It is both a training, discussion, to sum it all, it's educational. The Belize Medical and Dental Association facilitates medical sessions for all doctors. Today is the first day of the event November 15th. The congress itself being the magnum event for physicians and dentist in the country is to be held the 16th and 17th on Wednesday and Thursday."

US Volunteer Organization Puts Deeds To Words
And while the Ministry is focusing on a more theoretical approach in this year's Congress, the doctors and nurses from the Caribbean American Medical Education Organization are putting it all into practice. 6 doctors and nurses from the US are in Belize offering free medical services. The team arrived on Monday and have their check up space set up at Area Representative Patrick Faber's Collet Office. The president of CAMEO Yvonne Keen told us more about the services they are providing and the director Dr. David Keen discussed the trends he has been observing in Belizean patients. The team will be at the collet office tomorrow from 9 to 4 and they move over to the LADYVILLE. Health center on Thursday, so make sure you go for your free checkup. A gynecologist is also along with the team.

Samson Teck Wah Bike
He had the gall to steal a bike form in front of the biggest police station in the country, and for that Samson Teck was lucky to get away with a fine in court today. According to Dean Brackett he was buying food on the corner of Queen Street and New Road, when Teck jumped on his bike and rode off down New Road. Brackett said he called for Teck to stop, but was ignored. A police mobile patrol was on Hyde's Lane at the time and easily intercepted and apprehended Teck. Teck, who said he was intoxicated at the time of the theft, was only fined $500 because it was his first offense. Magistrate Carlon Mendoza also stipulated that if the fine is not paid by February 15th, 2017, Teck will have to serve 5 months in prison.

Southside Cops Cracking Down On Motorbike Crimes
Southside police say that part of the city crime wave has to do with criminals on motorbikes, so they are cracking down. Southside police say they will be launching a number of traffic operations, targeting criminals on motorbikes. They're activating little used fines that are on the books and say that insurance and registration violations will be stringently enforced. Operations start immediately.

Duffel Bag With 17.5 Lbs of Weed
The South Side Strike Team made two cannabis busts yesterday. The first was on Iguana Street where police found several small, plastic bags containing one and a half ounces of cannabis in an open lot. That same afternoon, the strike team conducted a search in the Faber's Road Extension area where they found a black duffel bag containing seventeen and a half pounds of weed. No one was in the area, so they were taken in and labeled as found property.

PUP Say They Want Vega Recalled
Gaspar Vega was elected for his third term of office just one year ago - but already the PUP northern caucus is talking about a recall. At a meeting on Saturday the Caucus decided to endorse a recall of Gaspar Vega, while also calling for criminal charges to be brought. Bow Vega is already on his way out - and has said he will not run again, but today John Briceno said he needs to leave now:... Hon. John Briceno, PUP Party Leader: "I think that he needs to do the right thing. I think that he needs to do the honorable thing. I think he needs to resign now. If he refuses to resign now at the appropriate time, I think which is going to be 18 months after the election, which is going to be in May of 2017. The people of Orange Walk North have said, through the northern caucus that they are going to mount a recall against the Hon. Gaspar Vega." A recall cannot be invoked until the 18th month of a representative's term.

Briceno says His Former PM's Signature on Accommodation Agreement Questionable
But there's no recalling of the Accommodation Agreement - which was signed in secret during the last PUP Government when John Briceno was Deputy Prime Minister. But it was so secret that he never knew about it, and up to a few months ago said he still hadn't seen it - which is interesting since his family's phone company got a special carve out in there. But, speaking today, Mr. Briceno said that the Accommodation Agreement - which has cost government hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation to the Ashcroft Alliance - could have been very easily overturned in court - even though his Prime Minister Said Musa signed it:... Hon. John Briceno, PUP Party Leader: "There are compelling arguments as to why certain parts of the accommodation agreement would not have been enforceable. One of them is that the prime minister cannot sign off on taxes without the acquiescence of the commissioner of income tax, secondly that the prime minister cannot sign off on certain ahm task privileges to a company, that has been, that is the sole responsibility of the public utilities commission. Those two alone that if the government would have gone to court, they could have gotten, they could have overturned that."

Boots And The Big Yellow Building
Briceno also discussed his parliamentary colleague Boots Martinez and that big yellow building which now houses the department of social services within his own ministry. He says Martinez should be investigated:.. Hon. John Briceno, PUP Party Leader "Wasn't there a story on some local channel that were talking about pool tables? That that was what he was doing for a living and that he had $35,000 in the bank. From pool tables, now his daughter is building a huge mansion. A daughter I don't know that she has been working for a year. So, if it's the name of a daughter, where did she get the money? Has the FIU done an investigation? Maybe the FIU needs to investigate where his daughter got the money to build that mansion if that is the case."

Briceno says Trump Had The Right Message
And Briceno also spoke about the stunning rise of Donald Trump to the US Presidency. He says he didn't expect it in the least - but he did catch Trump's message:...

Sewing The Smart Way
Courts TODAY held a ceremony for the 20 participants who completed their 8 week sewing course. Now this is the first initiative of its kind for Courts and the Marketing officer told us why they decided to start the class. We also spoke to 2 participants about their sewing experiences. There was also a competition in which the bedding spreads were judged and the first place winner got a Brother sewing machine and a few gift certificates.


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Channel 5

Police Make Arrest in Double Murder; Tyler Savery's Mom Shares Deep Pain
There is an arrest in the double murder of seven-year-old Tyler Savery and twenty-one-year old Porshan Pipersburgh. Police have charged a Curassow street resident for the double murder. When Jayear [...]

Leader of the Opposition Repeats Call for National Unity on Crime
The murder of seven-year-old Tyler Savery and his twenty-one-year-old cousin, Porshan Pipersburgh, has broken many Belizean hearts. A simple outing to get a milkshake at a neighbourhood establishment on Friday [...]

Superbond 3.0 is All U.D.P. Legacy, Says P.U.P.
Prime Minister Dean Barrow; Financial Secretary Joseph Waight, and Economic Ambassador Mark Espat returned from New York City over the weekend having laid the groundwork for the possible negotiations for [...]

Get Ready for Higher Taxes and Retrenchment, Opposition Warns
Batting away reminders that his party, when in Government, packaged seventeen original loans to form the Superbond and that much of that debt has still not been paid, P.U.P. leader [...]

P.U.P. Meets B.N.T.U.; Can Government Be Convinced on Salary Deductions?
The People's United Party met earlier today with the executive of the Belize National Teacher's Union. Many of the Union's members who went on an eleven-day strike that led to [...]

Do You Believe G.O.B. Will Raise Taxes?
And our question for tonight is: Do you believe G.O.B. will raise taxes as a result of Superbond restructuring? Send your comments and responses using your SMART phones to 8686 [...]

Without Guatemala, Can Belize Hold on to Sarstoon?
Minister of Foreign Affairs Wilfred Elrington appears to have thrown his hands up in the air in relation to getting a Sarstoon Protocol, admitting that he has been unable to [...]

Guatemala Controls Southern Boundary; Infringing into Belizean Territory
A report of the latest military encounter on the Sarstoon River, involving village leaders, as well as a team of and park rangers attached to SATIIM, has been filed with [...]

SATIIM Says Oversight of National Park Needs G.O.B. Intervention
Since losing its co-management agreement in July 2013, SATIIM has been virtually on its own as far as monitoring illegal activities within the expansive broadleaf, wetland and mangrove forest.� The [...]

N.G.O. Reps Promise "Inclusive" Process for 13th Senator
The process of officially selecting a thirteenth senator is finally underway, eight years after being introduced as a manifesto promise by the United Democratic Party.�� Twenty-two non-government organizations considered to [...]

13th Senator Means Business!
Critics of the appointment of a thirteenth senator, including Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington, have dismissed the addition of one more parliamentarian as merely another stumbling block in government's move to [...]

Shelly Meighan Forgives Attackers; Roger Anthony, Kendis Flowers Walk from Attempted Murder Charge
Two notorious figures of the Ghost Town area also known as "Mayflower Street" walked from the charge of attempted murder after the woman they allegedly attempted to murder in a [...]

Will Gaspar Vega Face Recall in Orange Walk North?
The Northern Caucus of the People's United Party has called for the resignation of Gaspar Vega. The Orange Walk North area representative and former Deputy Prime Minister resigned from cabinet [...]

"Boots" Martinez and Daughter's Finances Questioned
Last week, Minister of Human Development Anthony "Boots" Martinez denied conflict of interest in the decision by the Department of Social Services, which used to be on Regent Street, to [...]

The Lesson of Donald Trump for Belizean Politics
Donald Trump is set to take office in January as the forty-fifth President of the United States of America. He surprised the world with an unexpectedly comprehensive victory over Democratic [...]

Promoting the Use of G.I.S. in Schools
Geospatial information systems may be introduced in the classrooms through the curriculum starting from primary schools. On Tuesday, primary school teachers participated in a workshop where they were introduced to [...]

Medics and Dentists Discuss Advances in Health Profession
The Belize Medical and Dental Association is hosting its thirty-fifth annual congress this week. The three-day event kicked off with a conference today sponsored by the Ministry of Health through [...]

Courts Belize Completes Sewing Circle Project
Courts has embarked on an initiative to empower primarily single mothers and women who have retired and are seeking a means to earn an income. Using their Brother Sewing product, [...]

Dangriga Will Be Safe for Garifuna Settlement Weekend, Say Police
The murder of Victoria Castillo, the sixty-three year old churchgoing Christian mother and grandmother, who was nearly decapitated by attackers who wanted her money-about three thousand dollars in cash-for their [...]

Belize Steps Up in International Film Festival
Yochi, Manna and Soca Mode are some of the productions that made it to the top in this year's Belize International Film Festival. These local productions competed against thirty others [...]

CTV3

Police Charged One Of Their Own For Wounding
Last night we reported that after an entire week of investigation carried out by the Orange Walk Police Formation against one of their own after a report of police brutality was made against him by twenty one year old Hugo Noh, a Guinea Grass resident, the case file was sent to the DPP for further instructions. Tonight we can tell you that Police Constable Jaime Gongora was formally arrested and charged this afternoon at the Orange Walk Magistrate's Court. During his arraignment, Gongora plead not guilty and was offered bail in the sum of $4,000 plus one surety of the same amount. The case was adjourned for the 21st of February, 2017.

GOB Investigates Encounter Between SATIM And GAF
Over the past month there have been two very alarming incidents at the Sarstoon involving the Guatemalan Armed Forces, and the BDF as well as Belizean citizens, where the GAF have denied access of the area to Belizeans. The latest encounter was recorded on Thursday November 10th when the Sarstoon-Temash Institute for Indigenous Management (SATIIM) was interrupted by Guatemalan Armed Forces (GAF) while operating in the Sarstoon River. Today the Ministry of Defense issued a press release informing that the Belize Defense Force (BDF) received a report of an incident that occurred last Thursday, involving SATIIM.

Standard And Poor Lowers Belize's Credit Rating
There is bad economic news to report tonight. Standard and Poors credit rating agency has lowered their long-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings for Belize's from B minus to CCC plus. The agency also indicated that they were lowering their short-term foreign and local currency sovereign ratings from B to C. The lowered ratings takes Belize's credit ratings, from the perspective of Standard and Poors, to junk status and it can have wide impacts on how financial creditors and investors view Belize's financial capacity.

OWTC Puts Taxpayers Money To Good Use
As promised by the Orange Walk Town Council, there has been major investment in infrastructure and the target has been and continues to be the renovation of various streets across town which is considered heavily trafficked areas. Continuing with their commitment, the council is now upgrading Munoz Lane, Cinderella Street and Santa Ana Street providing residents a smooth ride to their specific destinations.

Opposition Leader Says New Super bond Crisis Is The UDP Creation
Belize's depressed economy has taken center stage in national discussions as the Barrow administration prepares to make another attempt to re-negotiate the over $500m Superbond debt. Prime Minister Dean Barrow explained in interviews yesterday that the Superbond renegotiations have become necessary because the economy has not performed as expected under the terms of the 2013 negotiations with bondholders. Today, Leader of the Opposition Hon. John Briceno called on the media to address the issue squarely. He explained why in his view the situation could have been avoided and called the looming debt crisis, a UDP-made economic disaster.

LOVE FM

Belize Gets Downgraded by Standard and Poor's Global Ratings
It is no secret that Belize's economy has seen a downward trend in its growth performance and that austerity measures announced earlier by Government will create some challenges in both the private and public sectors. But, there is more to Belize's economic performance than just the local effects. Just yesterday Standard and Poors lowered Belize's [�]

BELIZE: CABEI's Newest Non-Founding Member
With Belize being downgraded by Standard and Poor's Global Ratings and with the International Monetary Fund recently providing a bleak outlook for Belize as well as Moody's Financial Services, one good thing coming out of the financial front is the fact that Belize recently joined the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI). It may [�]

Guatemala Insists on Sarstoon Protocol; Belize Says There Is None
With the absence of a written mutual agreement between Belize and Guatemala surrounding the Sarstoon, it continues to leave the window open for confrontations to occur at the Sarstoon as what transpired on Thursday, November 10, between the Guatemalan Armed Forces and the Sarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management (SATIIM). While SATIIM was given access [�]

Opposition Leader Says There's No Plan to Defend the Sarstoon
Today, Leader of the Opposition, John Briceno, held a press briefing in which he spoke of the latest incident in the Sarstoon. As we have been reporting, Maya Leaders were traversing up the Sarstoon River last week when they were stopped by members of the Guatemalan Armed Forces. According to the Guatemalan Military, the Maya [�]

Briceno Says the Bond Is For and From Dean Barrow
Prime Minister Dean Barrow along with his legal team is looking to restructure Belize's 2038 Bonds that were issued in 2013. The government is citing that the country's economy has significantly underperformed in comparison with the projections used at the time of setting the terms of the bonds. PM Barrow is looking to get out [�]

PUP Lead Senator to File Court Application against GOB on Behalf of Teachers
On Wednesday, November 9, 2016 attorney for the Belize National Teachers Union, Senior Counsel Eamon Courtenay wrote to Education Minister, Patrick Faber requesting that the order to have deductions made to teachers' salaries be rescinded. While the letter is no surprise, as Minister Faber had told the media about it last Friday when we met [�]

PUP and BNTU Meet
This morning the Opposition Leader, John Briceno met with the leaders of the Belize National Teachers Union, BNTU. Briceno shared what was discussed. JOHN BRICENO "

PUP Prepare to Engage in Recall of Gaspar Vega
Over the weekend, the Northern Caucus of the People's United Party met in Ranchito Village. The focus of the meeting was to discuss the process, procedures and requirements for the recall of a Member of the House of Representatives. In this case, the subject was UDP's Area Representative, Gaspar Vega. The PUP's Northern Caucus is [�]

Opposition Leader Blames Government and Community for Tyler's Death
An 18-year-old Belizean laborer has been charged for the murders of 7-year-old, Tyler Savery and 21-year-old, Porshan Pipersburgh. The accused murderer, Jayear Flores of a Currasow Street address in Belize City is now facing two counts of murder following the death of Savery on Friday evening and Piperburgh's passing on Saturday evening. The two cousins [�]

A City of Violence and An Appeal for the Public's Help
The past weekend saw a spike in murders and shootings after the gunmen seem to have taken somewhat of a sabbatical. Seven shooting incidents with three persons losing their lives and one person critical in the hospital were reported for the Belize District alone. It is a case where the outcry for justice is becoming [�]

Amandala

Chopped up for US$3,000
The body of a Dangriga resident, Victoria Castillo, 63, who had been reported missing, was discovered, chopped into pieces, with her head almost cut off, in a crocus sac buried inside a shallow grave at around midday on Saturday. She was found near her home on Melinda Road in Dangriga Town. A police investigation revealed that US $3,000 and her passport were missing from her residence. The Officer Commanding the Dangriga Police formation, Senior Superintendent Ralph Moody, told our newspaper that some nephews of Castillo's spouse are wanted in connection with her murder. Moody believes that the men have since fled to El Salvador.

Ruthless gunman murders child, 7
John Avilez, 26, lost his life on Angel Lane in 2014 after a gunman exited a vehicle and fired several shots towards him while he was socializing with friends and relatives. His nephew, Leon Savery, 28, was also shot multiple times in that same incident and lost his life just days later. On Friday, Savery's only child, Tyler Savery, was gunned down not too far away from where he, Leon Savery, had been shot. Tyler, just 7 years old, was with his cousin, Porshan Pipersburgh, 21, on Daly Street when they came under fire. Tyler and Porshan were on a bicycle around 4:30 p.m. on their way to buy a milkshake when occupants inside a white four-door car opened fire at them.

Manna: A Hyde film showcased at BIFF
Today, the 11th annual Belize International Film Festival premiered a number of films in its Short Narratives category, and among the many films created by filmmakers from many countries was Manna, a film produced by some members of the Hyde family. The executive producer of Manna is Ronald Hyde and the film producers are Blackhorse Lowe, Colin Hyde, Daniel Edward Hyde and Jonathan Vellos (Manifest Multimedia). Manna is based on an original script written and produced by Daniel Hyde, who teamed up with Blackhorse Lowe and Jonathan Vellos as directors of photography. It is of note that Manna received Special Mention (Short Film Category) and won Most Notable Belizean Film.

Guat military stops SATIIM - again!
In a press release issued last night, the Sarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management (SATIIM) decried the latest incursion and attack by the Guatemalan Armed Forces (GAF) at the Sarstoon River, in which the army again tried to exert power over Belizean territory, claiming that a protocol must be observed-this despite assertions by Belize Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington last Friday that talks with Guatemala to agree on a protocol for the Sarstoon, Belize's southern border with Guatemala, had been at a standstill because the Guatemalans stopped engaging when relations soured over the fatal shooting of a Guatemalan minor in the Chiquibul in April. That was the same month a SATIIM patrol was stopped, and they were stopped again on Wednesday, November 10, 2016. The SATIIM patrol, which had been mounted to monitor ancestral lands in the area, was met by a GAF team, which told them that they need to understand the protocol in place. "While SATIIM forest patrols have previously been accosted by the Guatemalan military in this historically contested border area, this is the first time the Mayans were informed they could only enter under Guatemalan military escort," SATIIM's release said.

Ladyville resident in coma after 9 p.m. ambush
Within an hour, two Ladyville residents survived two separate attempts on their lives. The first to survive was Golda Martinez, 35, of #3 Bracket Farm in Ladyville. She was reportedly inside her home with her children at around 8 o'clock Sunday night when someone began to throw stones at her house. She peeped through a window to see who the culprit was, and saw a man near some bushes. The man, Martinez said, was dressed in black, with a white hoodie. He was holding an object and pointed it towards her. However, she quickly moved away from the window, and then heard a loud bang. The gunman had blasted a hole in the front door of her home, and he then fled the area. Police were immediately called to the scene, and are investigating the shooting.

Only 59 incarcerated and remanded for murder
The murder count for this year, 2016, is approaching 130-significantly higher than the count for 2015, but a bigger concern is the fact that murder convictions and arrests are substantially low at 59 as of the end of October 2016, with another 52 persons in prison for attempted murder and 9 for manslaughter. This is according to information supplied to us by the Belize Central Prison, pointing to a probably decline in the prison population by at least 10% for 2016. In some cases, multiple persons are remanded for single murder cases, as is the case with the murder and beheading of Pastor Llewelyn Lucas, for which the man known as Danny Mason/Rajesh Ouelette has been remanded with three other persons. We were also advised the murder conviction rate is lamentably still in the single digits. In 2015, there were 74 murder convicts or remanded suspects behind bars, so the figure has dropped by 20%, even as the murder rate is increasing.

National U-17 posts 4-1 win over City selection at MCC, leaves Tuesday for Costa Rica
On Saturday night at the MCC Grounds, the National U-17 team played its last practice match before leaving on Tuesday of this week for World Cup 2018 qualifiers in Costa Rica. They played a U-17 team comprised of players from the two top teams in the recently completed Belize District U-17 tournament, namely Warriors FC and Hattieville Riverside Boys. As expected, the National U-17 prevailed, 4-1; but the game was very competitive, as there are still a number of talented City players that did not make the selection. Golden Boot winner in the Belize District U-17 competition, Kenroy Linares (82') scored the only goal for the City selection; while the National U-17 got goals from #4 Jesse August (12'), #19 Rayjan Jones (49'), #9 Gabriel Ramos (70') and #18 Christian Bush (85'). Coach Charlie Slusher said the team is short of their two best midfielders, Zerrick Cabral and Joseph Ramirez, who were not given permission by their high schools to make the 10-day trip.

CYDP Peace Cup reg. season ends, playoffs under way
The regular season for the CYDP Peace Cup was completed on Saturday, November 12, at the MCC Grounds with the last two games in Group B, which would determine the final Group B spot in the playoffs. In the opener on Saturday, Kelly Street clipped Stars Academy, 3-2, with a hat trick (3 goals) from Steven "Breds" Baizer, while Kendis Williams got both goals for Stars Academy. And in the nightcap, Adgar Adderley struck twice and Irvin Wade got another, as Coast Guard defeated Tut Bay, 3-1. Brian Martinez got the only goal for Tut Bay. With those results, the stage was set for the 8-team playoffs, which feature the top four teams from each group, Group A and Group B, being matched in best-of-two games quarterfinal series. Playoff teams from Group A are: Ebony Lake, Ladyville FC, Yabra/City Boys FC and Hattieville United; and from Group B: Survivors FC, Coast Guard, Kelly Street FC and Tut Bay FC.

BDFA Inter-Office Week 1 results, schedule
The Belize District Football Association (BDFA) kicked off its 2016 Inter-Office football competition with Week 1 games at the MCC Grounds on Wednesday and Thursday, November 9 & 10, of last week. As reported in our weekend issue, Wednesday's games saw RF& G Insurance playing to a 2-2 draw with KHMH; while a battle of the phone companies saw Smart and BTL also playing to a 2-2 stalemate. In the opener on Thursday night, Tourist Village blanked Belize Bank, 5-0, with goals from John Castro (13' & 51'), Carlos Leno (20' & 41') and Anthony Arnold (63'). And in the nightcap, it was Belize City Council, 1-nil, over BWS, on a goal by Darren Leal (55'). Ground rules: According to tournament rules, teams can have (i) no semi-pro player; (ii) may include 3 First Division (CYDP Peace Cup is considered 1st Division) players, but only 2 are allowed on the field at one time; and (iii) 1 female player must be on the field at all times.

SSBA basketball regular season ends this weekend
On Friday night, Sergeant Peppers Savages came up with a huge win against Benque Power, 63-52, to claim the fourth and final playoff spot in the Under 23 division of the San Ignacio/Santa Elena (SSBA) basketball competition. Sergeant Peppers Savages was led by Robert Jeffries, who had the game high with 29 pts, while Joel Montejo netted 19 pts. Kevin Brown was the top scorer for Benque Power with 16 pts, while Anfernee Young and Jamie Carbajal tallied 12 and 11 pts, respectively. In game 2, Belize Pet World, who was initially named Special Effects, blew out Cayo, 55-22, in the Over 35 division. Darrel Williams was the top scorer with 13 pts, while Arthan Tucker sank 12 pts, and Karon "Civic" Neal scored 11 pts. Roberto "Mosho" Castellanos was the high man for the Cayo squad with 12 pts. In the nightcap, Belmopan defeated Maria Chang/4G Lyte, 62-52, in the Over 35 category. Earl "Bolo" Johnson sank 24 pts, while Mark "Diesel" Wagner netted 15 pts, and Rupert Brown chipped in with 13 pts. Maria Chang/4G Lyte was led by Vince "Post" Estrada with the game high of 27 pts, while Kevin Domingo scored 9 pts. The last game of the night was not played, as Benque Riders was a no-show, giving the win to Maraton Mambas in the Senior Division.

America as Europe
In a sense, in last week Tuesday's presidential election the citizens of the United States of America asserted, or re-asserted, their European-ness. There was a white nationalism backlash being expressed in their Donald Trump vote by many of America's majority white citizens. There are areas of the United States, most notably the so-called Confederate Southern states, where the notion of a black American President was viewed with great skepticism, and sometimes downright scorn. The United States, of course, elected a black President, Barack Obama, in both the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections. Hillary Rodham Clinton, whom Obama defeated to win the 2008 presidential nomination for the Democratic Party, and who became the Democratic Party candidate for last Tuesday's presidential election, was viewed by white nationalists as someone who would be continuing the Barack Obama legacy and policies, a legacy and policies viewed as odious and contemptible by Confederate-thinking Americans. The continental United States was a territory inhabited by Indigenous Native American tribes when the first Europeans, perhaps the Spanish and the French, landed on its shores in the sixteenth century. European settlers of British origin came to the northeastern coast of the United States in the ship named the Mayflower in 1620, but their explorers and pirates, such as Sir Francis Drake, landed on the West Coast of America decades earlier.

From the Publisher
Sometime between Saturday night and Sunday morning, my God, east from Addis Ababa to the Black Hills of the Lakota Sioux, "dreamed" to me, and I saw that we Belizeans were now going back in time to those days when our masters spoke to us from far away, and in this land by the sea we had to answer soft, and say "Sir," and "Madam." When the struggle for self-rule and Belizean dignity began, I was a little child, and we had no running water and no sewerage systems in Belize. We were a poor people, but we could endure our pain because this was all we saw around us. "We didn't know no better." The days would come when we Belizeans began to see comfort and riches. We saw comfort and riches in America, and afterwards we saw such comfort and riches in Belize itself. The riches we saw were material things, and we began to desire such things. Our desire became so great that we were willing to sacrifice our very souls, some of us even our lives.

Adolphus A. Rosales writes on the 13th Senator
Dear Editor, Kindly allow me space in your valuable newspaper to draw attention to the Governor General, Minister Dean O. Barrow and those advocating a 13th Senator. I personally opined that the stipulation is repetitive and redundant. Section 61 of the Constitution stipulates that the Senate composition shall be as follows: 1. 6 to be nominated by the Government 2. 3 by the Opposition Party in Parliament 3. 1 by the Belize Council of Churches 4. 1 by the Chamber of Commerce & Industry 5. 1 by the National Trade Union Congress 6. 1 by non-governmental organizations In analyzing the definition of government, I opined that the opposition, listed in Item 2, is "technically" non-governmental and legally those in Items 3, 4 and 5 are non-governmental; therefore, alluding to the nomination of a 13th Senator by non-governmental organizations is not only repetitive but, redundant.

PUP want Hon. Gaspar Vega recalled
The People's United Party (PUP) is seeking to recall former Cabinet Minister and Orange Walk North area representative, Gaspar Vega. The recall mechanism was introduced into law by the United Democratic Party during the first of its three successive terms in government. This law allows for the removal from office of any elected area representative who the public feels is not acting in its best interest. Thirty percent of voters must sign on to a petition for recall to be successful. During the UDP's second of its three successive terms in office, an effort by the PUP was made to recall embattled Immigration Minister and Cayo Northeast Representative, Elvin Penner, but the effort failed. The PUP's northern caucus met on Saturday in Ranchito Village, Corozal District, where it was updated on the process, procedures and requirements for the recall of a sitting Member of the House of Representatives.

Breaking Belize NewsPJ

Man charged for shooting little girl
Anthony Crawford has been charged in connection with the shooting of a female minor on Sunday night. Crawford has been charged with 'attempted murder', 'wounding' and 'deadly means of harm'. Police are yet to make any arrests in the shooting of the other female [�]

Teen charged for Friday's double murder
Police have charged one man in connection with the recent murder of Tyler Savery, 7, and Porshan Pipersbugh, 21. Jayear Flores, 18, a Belizean laborer, has been arrsted and charged for two counts of murder. Flores was arraigned today in the Belize City Magistrate [�]

House goes up in flames in PG
A wooden house and items inside belonging to John Ortega and Aura Lemus went up in flames last night. The incident occurred around midnight on Govel Morgan Street in the Indianville area of Punta Gorda town in the Toledo district. The value of the [�]

Ministry of Defense reports on GAF stopping SATIIM Patrol Vessel on the Sarstoon River
Today, the Ministry of Defense issued a press release informing that the Belize Defense Force (BDF) received a report of an incident that occurred last Thursday, November 10, in which the Sarstoon-Temash Institute for Indigenous Management (SATIIM) was interrupted by Guatemalan Armed Forces (GAF) [�]

Would a devaluation be good for Belize?
It would seem that the Government of Belize is convinced that a devaluation and/or revaluation of the Belize currency would be good for Belize�.as they have done everything they possibly can to increase the risk of losing the Belize dollar peg at [�]

Alert! Fake money circulating
Officer Commanding Belmopan police, Supt. Howell Gillett is advising the public to be alert because there are reports of fake Belizean money circulating, in particular the $20 bill. Gillett mentioned some tips that would be helpful to recognize the fake currency. "The public can [�]

Blogs

A super moon over Ambergris Caye
There is something about the moon that tugs at our hearts. Whether it be a full or waning moon, we are mesmerized by its beauty. The sight of the glowing orb rising over the horizon tends to slow us down, connecting us as we realize just how tiny we are in the universe. That feeling was magnified on Monday November 14th, when the glow of the Super Moon bathed our island. The term Super Moon was coined by scientists as the moon appeared 14% bigger and up to 30% brighter. Those lucky to find themselves in an area with clear skies got to enjoy this natural phenomenon.

Has Secret Beach, West Ambergris Caye, Jumped the Shark?
Things are getting BUSY! It's not longer a hidden paradise�a spot for only locals on Sunday afternoon. Has Secret Beach, with the gaudy sign and sudden upwelling of new businesses, jumped the shark? So�with 4 eateries, 3 places to buy drink (one with a license to stay open until MIDNIGHT), a beach club and room for many many more people. Is it the end of an era at SECRET Beach? My opinion: It is DEFINITELY no secret�and many have been mourning that. But I think it's bigger and BETTER. Especially during the week�

International Sourcesizz

S&P cuts Belize as country looks to restructure $530m in bonds
S&P Global Ratings has cut Belize's sovereign credit rating deeper into junk territory as the Central American country looks to restructure its debt for the second time in five years. The ratings agency lowered the rating to CCC+ from B- with a negative outlook. Last week, Belize Prime Minister Dean Barrow traveled to New York to meet its financial advisors and holders of the country's 2038 bonds after the government said it is confronting "serious economic and financial challenges." Ahead of the meeting, the government urged bondholders to form a committee before the end of November, or roughly two months before the country faces its next coupon payment. A government spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Belize joins CABEI as a non-founding regional member country
Belize joined the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) as a full member, as a result of the recent amendments to the Bank's Constitutive Agreement, which allows the region's countries to enjoy full participation and integrate the CABEI Board of Directors and Board of Governors. The above was made known by means of a formal note addressed to the CABEI Executive President, Dr. Nick Rischbieth, from Belize's Finance Minister, Honorable Dean O. Barrow, who confirmed that Belize had completed the terms and conditions to become a non-founding regional member. The amendments to the CABEI Constitutive Agreement that made these changes possible came into effect on June 9, 2016, and are aimed at consolidating the Bank's preferential creditor status, supporting its member countries, strengthening its capital base and promoting a greater diversification of its loan portfolio.

The Caribbean PPP Landscape from A to P
THE Caribbean has pressing investment challenges, it needs more than US$21 billion in infrastructure investment by 2025 in order to close the infrastructure services gap in the region. According to S Brian Samuel, Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) Coordinator at the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), this provides an impetus for PPP projects across the Region. From 1990 to 2013, apart from the Dominican Republic, Jamaica has led the way with respect to implementing almost five times the total value of PPP projects, as compared to the next highest contributor, Belize. There are still a few notable Caribbean PPP successes including Jamaica's Sangster International Airport at Montego Bay, Haiti's Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and Jamaica's Renewable Energy Auctions. Haiti, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago also have dedicated PPP Units and Policies, and Grenada and St Lucia have put policies in place.

Videos

  • Banco Chinchorro and the Belize Barrier Reef, 1min. Diving Costa Maya at Mahahual and the Belize Barrier Reef near Caye Caulker

  • Gulf of Honduras Creative Conservation Project, 5min. From 2014-2016, Creative Action Institute worked with leading conservation organizations in Belize and Guatemala to amplify their initiatives through creative leadership and community engagement. Special thanks to the Oak Foundation, New England Biolabs Foundation and New England Biolabs.

  • Visit to Belize Part 2: The Children, 2min. Hear first hand how meeting the children at the Liberty Children's Home has changed the lives of our MaidPro Cares volunteers.

  • BELIZE UNDERWATER, 1min.

  • EF Belize Trip 2017, 2min. Come join us! An amazing opportunity to swim in the second largest coral reef in the world.

  • Missions Trip Belize, 3.5min.

  • Freeks wilde wereld Belize Bommetje!, 10min.

  • , 30min. In early 2015, a team of 22 explorers set out into the far reaches of Belize's treasured Chiquibul National Forest on a mission to reach the never before explored Nohoch Ch'en Sinkhole - a massive bowl with sheer limestone walls dropping 500 feet below the jungle, and breathtaking views. Join the crew as they discover the extraordinary and mystical features of Nohoch Ch'en, ranging from it's incredibly unique gradient of ecosystems, the rare and endemic species living inside, and an unknown ancient history left by the Maya people... Nohoch Ch'en is but one of many amazing features of the Chiquibul, but it is not without it's threats. Deforestation and incursions from over the border threaten this beautiful land, and it is up to the governing rangers of FCD (Friends for Conservation & Development), and all of us to protect it.

  • Fish tournament 2016, 10min. from PGTV News

  • SOCIAL WORK STUDENT ASSOCIATION (SWSA) - SEXUAL HARASSMENT CAMPAIGN, 22min.

  • BELIZE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY CHRISTMAS EXPO EXTRAVAGANZA, 26min.

  • "12 DAYS OF CHARITY" City Council Initiative, 30min.

  • Remembering the Veterans, 17min.

  • NGO 13th SENATOR SELECTION PROCESS, 40min.

  • World Diabetes Day, 30min.

  • Supper Bond Update, 14min.

  • Gruesome Discovery in the Midnight Terror Cave of Belize, 3min. Sometime around midnight on a night in 2006, an antiquities looter hoping to find and steal relics of an ancient Mayan civilization from a cave Belize got the punishment he deserved - he lost his grip on the rope he was clinging to and fell 60 feet (18 meters) to the bottom of the cave into a deep pile of human bones. The Belizean Mennonite farmer who heard the looter's blood-curdling screams and rescued him gave the cave the name "Mitnacht Schreknis Heel," which is Plautdietsch (the Dutch-German Mennonite dialect) for "Midnight Terror Cave." Researchers recently revealed how the bones got there and confirmed that the cave deserves its gruesome name.

  • Belize Night Dive Macy and Max first ND, 7min. Macy and Max first Night Dive. Belize. August 2016.

  • Ancient Mayan Ruins at Altun Ha & The Old River, Belize, 6min.

  • Rotary Club of Belmopan | The Belize Children Project (Documentary), 8.5min. This documentary was put together by the Belmopan Rotary Club to highlight the work being done through the Belize Children Project. The Belize Childrens Project (BCP has helped over 400 children with bone related problems, obtain needed medical attention in the States.

  • Belize Fly Fishing | Tom Rosenbauer, 23min. In this episode of The New Fly Fisher Tom Rosenbauer takes Colin McKeown to El Pescador Lodge in Belize to teach him how to fly fish for permit, bonefish and tarpon. Excellent lodge and great information in a beautiful destination.


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